Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube
The New York Banner

NeNe Leakes Files Lawsuit Alleging ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ Set Tolerates Racism

Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
WhatsApp
Telegram

The complaint follows the real housewife's announcement in November that she would return to the show if there are going to be any changes.

On Wednesday, NeNe Leakes filed a lawsuit against her former employer Andy Cohen and the show’s producers, saying that they condoned a toxic and racist environment.
Photo of the Remarkables mountain range in Queenstown, New Zealand.

As per the lawsuit acquired by Associate Press, Leakes protested to executives about her co-star, Kim Zolciak–Biermann, making racial statements for years, however, officials from NBCUniversal and Bravo television did nothing, instead retaliating against her and finally forcing her off the program.

NBCUniversal, Bravo, executives, and two production firms are named as defendants in the lawsuit, but not Zolciak-Biermann. “NBC, Bravo and True foster a corporate and workplace culture in which racially-insensitive and inappropriate behavior is tolerated, if not, encouraged,” the complaint reads.

Going into further depth, the cast planned to hold a barbeque within the first season, which premiered in 2008, and housewife Kim Zolciak-Biermann reacted to the idea with “words to the effect of: ‘I don’t want to sit around with NeNe and eat chicken.’” The statement “perpetuated an offensive stereotype about African-Americans,” according to the lawsuit.

Photo of the Remarkables mountain range in Queenstown, New Zealand.

In the fifth season of the show, Zolciak-Biermann made another “racially offensive and stereotypical” comments regarding housewife Kandi Burruss’ new home, referring to her area as “ghetto” and propagating a racial stereotype in an unpleasant statement over whether Burruss needed a swimming pool.

The suit further claims that following a disagreement with Leakes and other housewives in the same year, Zolciak-Biermann used the N-word to refer to them. It moreover claims that Zolciak-Biermann made false statements about Leakes’ drug usage and referred to her house as a “roach nest.”

David deRubertis, Leakes’ lawyer, issued a statement, saying, “From the day the series began filming, NeNe was the target of systemic racism from co-star Kim Zolciak-Biermann, which was tolerated by Bravo executive producer Andy Cohen and other executives.”

Photo of the Remarkables mountain range in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Another of Leakes’ attorneys, Joe Habachy, claimed in an email that, “not a day goes by that NeNe doesn’t wake up with an onslaught of overwhelming emotions as a direct result of these unfortunate and avoidable occurrences.”

The reality star additionally argues that the producers of ‘RHOA’ broke federal labor and anti-discrimination laws, and she is suing them for damages.

Reactions to NeNe Leakes Files Lawsuit Alleging ‘Real Housewives of Atlanta’ Set Tolerates Racism

NeNe calls Claudia a halfbreed and claims Bravo is racist after getting fired. Huh. #neneleakes

@KhaliNYC

Me knowing nene leakes will NEVER come back to RHOA after the lawsuit

@TexasRud

Coming to the realization that we will never see Nene Leakes on #RHOA ever again….I’m not alright.😢

@realityspeedd

Remember when Nene Leakes went around saying she wanted Kim Zolciak to come back to #rhoa so that she’d have another ally against Kenya and Kandi after season 12? Why would you advocate for someone you claim is racist to come back to a show?

@MadBeefs

@NeNeLeakes I love you dearly, but your lawsuit suing NBC, Bravo, Andy & the production company over Kim making a chicken comment on Season 1 is quite a stretch. Did you forget screaming at Kim telling her to close her legs to married men? How’s that ok for you to say to her?

@gacv2

We are never going to see NeNe Leakes on tv again

@_Maleyy

I hope Nene Leakes has deep pockets to pay for the legal fees #rhoa

@atlantian22

Nene Leakes is bitter suing the show she basically wanted to be back on & hinted that “ she’s open to going back if asked” she sees Andy still ignored her & they didn’t come running when Greg passed away she’s suing . She was so arrogant & hard to watch the last 5 seasons! BYE!

@kayitsmeok

Why the hell Nene Leakes file a lawsuit against Bravo & put Kim Zolciak in it?!? One minute she cool with her next minute she hates her. Wtf

@printsandPINK__

Nene leakes to her fans on her ever coming back to #RHOA after filing the lawsuit

@TexasRud